Photo Courtesy of Normani’s Instagram
It’s been almost a month since Fifth Harmony announced their indefinite hiatus to pursue solo projects, and now Normani (full name Normani Kordei) is getting her solo career officially started with a new record deal.
Billboard reports that the singer is the first artist to sign with Keep Cool/RCA Records, a new joint venture co-founded by A&R executive Tunji Balogun. She is currently working on her debut solo album in the studio.
Normani expressed her gratitude for the deal in a statement:
I’m so incredibly grateful to be able to be in a place where I can explore myself as an artist and what I’m capable of…Never in a million years did I think I would be in this position in 2018. Everyone has been so supportive and patient; thank you so much to my fans for giving me the opportunity.
The singer is still hot off the success of her February Khalid collaboration “Love Lies,” which is currently at No. 49 on the Billboard Hot 100 and has raked in over 29 million YouTube streams.
The deal also marks the official launch of Keep Cool, with Balogun being promoted to executive vp of A&R for RCA.
Balogun has been an instrumental in establishing the careers of hip-hop and R&B artists like Khalid, Bryson Tiller, GoldLink, and H.E.R., and helped create RCA’s partnership with Top Dawg Entertainment and SZA. Most recently, he assisted in the RCA signings of Childish Gambino and BROCKHAMPTON.
The A&R wiz previously spoke to Billboard about the importance of mentorship and inclusivity in the industry, stating: “It’s women and people of color that really drive the culture and that determine what becomes hot and which artists blow up. So it’s kind of crazy that the industry doesn’t reflect that.”
Balogun created Keep Cool with Courtney Stewart, Jon Tanners, and Jared Sherman.
Until Normani drops her debut, you can catch up on all the lyrics to “Love Lies” here on Genius.
